The only Muslim on the plane

The time has come. Although for "security reasons" I decided to give up my wonderful plan of getting to Ramallah overland (via The Balkans, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan), I was taking a plane to Tel Aviv very excited. While my trip through the Arabic countries almost certainly guaranteed problems at the King Hussein Bridge, from the always suspicious Israelis, a direct flight by Swiss Airlines was meant to be a peace of cake. In my situation, with a perspective of a dream work for a local NGO, in favour of democracy in the Free Palestine, it seemed thoughtless to risk being turned back from the crossing. Neither pleasant was a vision of getting only a short-term stay (instead of allowed 3 months), due to malicious decision of a custom officer…I had to sacrifice a great trip, but I was safe…. I was flying as a tourist to 'visit my Israeli friends. I was a Christian who came to see a beautiful country of Israel with its' holy sites'. What was going to happen could have proved the planned option a calm before the storm.

Swiss Airlines offer an impressive variety of choice of meals. Which one do you choose when you go to an Arabic country? Obviously a Muslim meal! At least that's what I did. Unfortunately, everyone else on the plane, for some reason, selected a Kosher version…Well, I have always stood out from the crowd, so why not this time? Believe me it is not the best feeling to sit in a close space next to an orthodox Jew, and surrounded by even more Jews (all of them hatched…), having a Palestinian flag sticking out from the back of your sit, without a possibility of escaping…And maybe it is also not the best idea to stand out, as there are Mossad agents planted on every flight to Tel Aviv…

But maybe the most important thing is to be faithful to your conscience? Hmm…this time I was in doubt for a longer moment…for a prolonged moment of one of the most embarrassing and odd situations I could imagine. It was one of those moments that when it happens, you wish it was over, but it seems like ages. And it was one of those moments that you later wonder, have had no right to have happened…but it happened.

I just didn't predict that on the plane would be just Jews. Jews from all over the world, of different origins, speaking various languages…but feeling united about their cause. And among them…one black sheep (in fact a green one, as I was coincidently wearing a green T-shirt, a T-shirt in a colour of Hamas). An overwhelming atmosphere of unity around me and of alienation inside me. I also couldn't predict the system of some idiotic (I can't find more appropriate word) flags. I wouldn't imagine in my worst nightmares, that a stewardess would come with a list of people who chose other than standard meals, to loudly confirm that they are 'different'. I felt like punished for doing something wrong.

When I think of it now, it was probably the best experience I could have to understand what Israel and the Occupied Territories are about and to adapt to the new environment and to the new situation. A one off experience that money can't buy.

To find a bright site of the whole: the stewardess who was serving us was really stunning and spoke at least three languages and my next sit neighbour, although he was eating a Kosher meal, was very kind. We had lots of laugh about my plight and he took me by a rented car to Jerusalem. And no secret service agent bothered me at all.

Have I learned a lesson from this story? Certainly yes: on my return flight I am going to enjoy my Muslim meal.